‘The Purge 2′ Perking Up Los Angeles Production
Production of Universal’s “The Purge 2″ — which is due to receive a California film tax credit — has perked up feature fim production in Los Angeles during the first month of the year.
The sequel, with the James DeMonaco returning to write and direct, has been shooting for the past month in a variety of downtown locations on Seventh Street, Broadway and Lacey Studios. FilmL.A., which provides permitting services, disclosed that the production has totaled 125 permitted days during the past four weeks, making it by far the most active off-lot production in the area so far this year.
The production permits for the sequel have been taken out under the name “The Zone.” But Universal said the name of the film will be “The Purge 2″ with a June 20 release date.
Jason Blum of Blumhouse is producing through his first-look deal with Universal along with Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes and Sebastien Lemercier.
“The Purge” was Blumhouse’s first production under its first-look deal with Universal. The sci-fi thriller, starring Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey and set in the year 2022, was also shot in Los Angeles and became a major success with $89 million in global box office after being produced on a budget of $3 million.
Universal came on to “Purge 2″ last June following the opening weekend success of “The Purge,” which dominated the box office with a stunning $34 million.
Blumhouse is also in line to receive a $2.25 million tax credit from the state of California for “The Purge 2,″ which was one of 31 projects that received a conditional approval last June for California’s Film and Television Tax Credit program.
If it’s cleared by the state, “The Purge 2″ will receive the credit covering up to 25% of the budget once production is completed and an audit has established that the production funds were spent in California.
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